Korean Connection

Opinion - Our Views

Given The Alternative, The Clinton Administration Is Right To Make Every Effort To Defuse Tensions On The Peninsula.

October 30, 2000|By Brown

The images of United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright chatting and laughing with North Korean strongman Kim Jong Il last week raised some eyebrows.

Was this friendly encounter for real? Is a genuine thaw in the works?

For years after the Korean War in the 1950s, Americans couldn't think about North Korea without remembering the carnage of that bitter conflict between North and South Korea, the many U.S. lives lost -- and wondering if and when it might happen again.

Then a decade passed and another and another. Although tensions remained high, the two Koreas managed to hold on to a fragile peace and even talked about better relations. That was a good thing, too, because tens of thousands of U.S. troops remain stationed in South Korea. In the event of renewed fighting, they would find themselves squarely in harm's way -- a concern for all Americans.

Suddenly, early in Bill Clinton's first term as president, a crisis emerged, pushing the United States and North Korea dangerously close to conflict. North Korea appeared to be shirking its promise not to develop nuclear weapons. It has insisted all along that it merely was looking for new energy sources, but its turning away of international inspectors suggested otherwise. Shock waves spread throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

In another era, such disruption might have led to war. But the Clinton administration tried some high-powered negotiating, bringing in South Korea, Japan and China. The United States and its allies agreed to help North Korea with its energy needs, and North Korea agreed to give up its questionable research.

Critics screamed that the Clinton administration was practicing appeasement, that North Korea was taking advantage of this country. Actually, the Clinton administration has demonstrated that it understands the situation. Yes, it is taking a big risk, but it's worth trying it in light of the alternative: war.

In recent years, North Korea's economy has gone into a tailspin, causing even more anxiety. Desperate situations can lead to desperate actions. But they also can encourage breakthroughs.

Today, the Clinton administration's attempts to build bridges with North Korea continue to accrue benefits. The administration sensibly has eased the U.S. embargo against North Korea in a bid to draw that country into the international mainstream.

And now Ms. Albright has returned with a helpful promise from Mr. Kim, that his country will launch no more ballistic missiles. He was referring to problems that arose a few years ago, when North Korea fired a test missile that crossed over Japan.

The critics warn that it's another ploy. But the Clinton administration is right to forge on, keeping alert but seeking ways to defuse tensions on the long-stressed peninsula.Our Views